School of Music

Student successes at the Urdd Eisteddfod

Final year student Aled Wyn Clark has received the Composer’s Medal at this year’s Urdd Eisteddfod in Gwynedd.

Second place in the competition went to another talented Cardiff composer, Rhydian Gwyn Lewis who is studying for a Joint Honours degree in Music and Welsh.

Aled was awarded the Composer’s Medal for his composition for harp and clarinet. Speaking of Aled’s work, adjudicator Gareth Glyn said: “Both instruments marry well, and different moods are evoked successfully. It’s obvious that the composer has experience and I’m confident he will have a successful career in music.”

Aled, who has placed second in the same competition in the past two years, said: “This was my third consecutive attempt at the competition and being exposed to such a diverse range of musical styles at the School of Music (through the vast number of concerts and scores that were in reach) has obviously had a positive effect.

“My entry two years ago, for example, was very much inspired by Welsh folk melodies I grew up listening to as a child; this year's entry was described by Gareth Glyn (the adjudicator and accomplished composer) as being more avant-garde, which I was pleasantly surprised to hear - not necessarily because of the avant-garde element but rather the fact that it confirmed that studying at the Cardiff School of Music had evidently changed my compositional voice in a manner which was never forced but always encouraged by my tutors.

“Apparently the quality of the entrants this year was astounding and the winning entry was extremely hard to choose, so massive congratulations must also go to Rhydian Gwyn Lewis - also a Cardiff student - who came second place with a piece for solo Flute!”